Helen Coonan (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) Share this | Hansard source

It is fantastic, Senator Abetz. WiMAX technology will be rolled out immediately. What is more important is that it will be available by the middle of 2009 to all Australians, whereas under Labor’s proposal you would not get it until 2013. You might, if you hang around long enough, be able to get it in some areas. This technology is capable of going at far greater speeds—up to at least 40 megabits per second—and it has a technology evolution upgrade. This government is very strongly committed to the proposition that all Australians, regardless of where they live, should not have to wait on the Labor Party and they should have access to high-speed broadband. We do not believe in picking technology winners, but we have allowed the industry to put forward the best mix of technologies to meet the varying needs of Australia’s vast terrain and scattered population.

It would be very brave person who said they knew all of the technological answers for Australia over the next five years. Just a couple of years ago, we know that the Labor Party’s only foray into the internet was a policy to mandate a dial-up rollout for $5 billion. The reality is that a mix of technologies will be the most effective means to deliver the services that Australia needs. The WiMAX broadband technology is more flexible than fixed line broadband in regional and rural areas. It is fourth generation wireless standard that provides high-speed broadband connections over long distances. The OPEL WiMAX network provides a network up to a radius of 20 kilometres from a base station and can be scaled to accommodate much higher speeds in future years. It is recognised by the OECD as particularly appropriate for regional broadband access. By adopting a mix of technologies, we are providing equitable access to all Australians, regardless of where they live, at a price they can afford because metro-comparable prices will now be available to rural and regional Australians—probably about the first fairness they are going to see in telecommunications regarding broadband for a very long time.